Help- my players stay out- I need to PC-proof this complex...

[Bill Muench]

(I'm making the assumption here that I know who the Big Bad is from reading your story hour)

I'd suggest both a Forbiddance and an Unhallow with a targeted Dispel Magic tied to it. So if they try to teleport in, some of them will be shunted outside the area. And those that are able to get in (only people with SR, probably) will get hit with an immediate Dispel. Then there's Him.

(since he can't cast clerical spells, btw, I'd suggest giving him a ramped up version of a Darkskull with a spell attached. Only problem with that is if a certain PC gets his hands on it.)

 

[KnowTheToe]

I say do it with flavor. I am reminded of Star Wars book I read, can't remember the author, but a character had little creatures that blocked the Force in a certain radius. He had these creatures all over the place. You could do something similar that the villian found blocks scrying or teleporting, or even an entire school of magic. How much fun would that be!

 

[The Grey Dwarf]

That reminds me of an old trap (Grimtooth's Traps, I think).

Put an automatic teleportation zone on the floor in a room.
This teleports the victim to the (high) ceiling and he/she falls again on the teleporter. And again, and again ...

Just make sure they initially teleport to that room, sit back and count the loops. It might be the last time they try that.

 

[Stone Angel]

Or you could put the villian at the begining and have them work there way to the front.

 

[Kareyev]

or you could try some variation on this

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article1.asp?x=dnd/oa/oa20010525a,3

 

[Datt]

Thanks for jogging my memory Kareyev.

If you look in the Web Enhancement for the Strongholder Builders guide on page 3. There is a new Wondrous Architecture called Forbidding Sigils. They guard a stronghold space from unwanted visitors - extraplanar or other-wise. The area is sealed from extradimensional travel into it, including dimension door, teleport, plane shifting and summoning spells.

And if it is who I think it is from your story hour then I am sure he could have somehthing like this put up.

Edit: here is the link to the WE.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/we/we20020505a

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

How about a slight tactical change: if you know the players are going to go the scry/teleport route, don't prevent it, use it!

Some good trap solutions have already been given, here's another: the reverse lair.

Dragon has a special area constructed off his main lair that he hangs out in and allows scrying (all other areas are blocked from scrying by screens, darkness, etc). The entrance/exit to this area is covered by an illusion, and involved flying through a tunnel that is rigged to collapse.

Players teleport in; dragon activates a dimensional anchor, then retreats collapsing the tunnel behind him, THEN throws up forbiddence or other spells to trap the players in the prepared room, or make life in the room difficult -- environmental effects, teleporting in minions (who then can't escape because of the dimensional anchor, that sort of thing).

For a truly intelligent opponent, a retreat should be an offensive weapon, not a defensive one. Deception, deception, deception ...

Boy am I looking forward to reading about this fight in a couple of weeks!

 

[Lela]

A note to those who don't read Doc's story hour. The BBEG is a White Wyrm that the party has already dropped in on once (and lost). As he said, they used Scry/Teleport to get in. Also, the place is a big carved out cave of ice. We can use those tricks.

Freezing water flowing through places comes to mind. And a dragon might have people who worshiped him before he was put in the mirror. Could he get some of those back? They would defend him.

Ice creatures who live in some of the smaller sections and entrences would work too. A demon might be nice to have on hand, though it might be a little cold for him. What about elementals? Is there a book with ice elementals or ice golems?

Unhallow would seem to be something every powerful evil dragon would have on his lair. Some clerics would be willing to cast it because they love the dragon while others would do it for money (or just to avoid death).

Also, there should be an easy way for him to get out should he need to. Flight is an important aspect of dragons that you've used well in the past. What about a section of ceiling that is thin enough that a good Fireball spell would melt it. Or even thin enough (in one spot only) to where he could fly through.

And Fly might seem redundant but the extra manuverability would come in as quite a shock to Vek and Kizz who can take a few hits but can't handle an all out attack by a dragon floating next to them. Think on getting a scroll or two of it for him.

Also, on that note, keep in mind that Wands are fun for dragons. Lightening Bolt and Acid Orb (TaB) come to mind. Acid Orb would be very effective against the spellcasters in the group while no one will expect Lightening Bolt. And I'm not sure if Bestow Curse is a Sor/Wiz spell but if it is go for it. A -6 on Jamison's Int and 50/50 chance of doing anything on Vek would work well.

Good luck Doc,

 

[Conaill]

Olgar had some excellent suggestions above.

Here's another interesting twist: just collapse the entire lair! It'll do some serious damage, it's an effective way to separate the party, messes with their vision (bye-bye True Seeing), and it prevents them from casting spells on anything but themselves (no line of sight). The dragon can Burrow through ice and snow up to 60' per round, and I would let him see through it using Blindsight (remorsense etc.) If you want to be nasty, have them start making suffocation rolls too.

PS: Big A knows he's facing a powerful lich, right? He should know by now that Vek is probably one of his strongest opponents. So while our heroes are travelling through the snow, what do you think *he* is doing? Poor Vek may be in for a little surprise...

 

[Lela]

Well, I hate to start picking out characters, but what would be most effective against Vek? He has 14 HD and turn resistance 4 or 6 (????) right? That puts him at 18-20 HD effectively.

Letting a Powerful cleric of Vecna or Nerull know there's a litch who's going to show up soon might be helpful. The cleric only needst to be about 15th level. With some extra feats from DotF and a high Cha they might be able to Rebuke him.

I'd like to see Wee Jas's face at that moment. Have Ziona take a picture.